Commissioner recommends dog be declared dangerous

Rufus has caused quite a ruckus.

Eleven people showed up at an appeal hearing Wednesday to either defend or condemn the canine to Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley, who hears dangerous dog appeals for the commissioners. The dog was declared dangerous last month after allegedly escaping from an apartment and attacking another dog.

Roskelley recommended Thursday the dog be declared dangerous. His recommendation will go to the other two county commissioners for a final decision on June 22.

Rufus’ owners, Shawna Meneely and Alpha Buford, defend the dog, saying they’ve been threatened and harassed because others don’t like their dog. They deny Rufus injured a neighbor’s dog when he escaped from their apartment on May 23.

Rufus — a boxer and pit bull mix — had previously gotten in trouble in 2003 for biting Fred Caddick, who was walking a small terrier near the Loma Vista apartment complex at 101 S. Havana Road. During the commotion, Caddick’s terrier ran into the road, got hit by a car and had to be euthanized, according to testimony.

Rufus also allegedly bit a bystander who tried to help break up the dog attack, according to Spokane County Regional Animal Care and Protection Services. Rufus had been declared potentially dangerous at that time.

On May 23, Rufus allegedly attacked J.W. “Shorty” Carrington’s dog, named Tuesday. Carrington’s 10-year-old son, Anthony, was walking Tuesday when Rufus allegedly attacked. Tuesday was not seriously injured, but Anthony was terrified, Carrington testified.

In response, Carrington allegedly went to Buford’s apartment and threatened him with a gun, according to testimony. Carrington said he brought the gun in order to defend himself against the dog, but didn’t intend to hurt anyone.

Buford denied that his dog hurt Carrington’s dog.

“I just feel my dog’s getting railroaded,” Buford told Roskelley Wednesday. “I don’t feel he did anything to be declared dangerous.”

Meneely said her dog doesn’t just attack people.

Roskelley disagreed: “Seems like he has a history of that,” Roskelley said.

To which Buford replied: “He has a history of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Meneely said she’d been informed Thursday morning that the appeal had been denied. She worries she won’t be able to get the expensive renter’s insurance necessary to keep a dangerous dog. But she said they’re determined to keep Rufus.

“I’m not letting them put him to sleep. He’s not a mean dog,” Meneely said.